The King, The Swallow, and Auclair's Boredom

Auclair found himself floating in a different plane of existence as knowledge started pouring into his head from the ring.

King Frederick the Merciful was a venerable man who's love and wisdom knew no bounds. As a young man he had recently been left behind by his friends and family alike, so he decided to traverse the wide world for a fine place to settle and lay the land.

Eventually he stumbled upon a small and poor town that suffered dearly through a particularly harsh winter. The folk in their tiny cottages could barely keep themselves warm with the few scraps of wood they had and their bellies full with the rotting food in their possession.

Despite entering the town with naught but the clothes on his back, he began helping the townsfolk with any task that needed to be done. He ignored the harsh cold and worked harder than any of the sons of the village.

Without a single link to the small village, they town accepted him with open arms. Frederick eventually became bedridden due to overworking his body. That's when a magnificent swallow with bright wings landed by his windowsill signifying the end of spring.

Frederick had no idea the amount of hard work he had achieved. His hands had hard calluses on them and despite that, he wanted to get back to work as soon as possible. As such, the townsfolk took care of him like he was one of their own and he quickly made his way back onto his feet.

That's when he found that no matter what he did, the particular swallow that he had first seen by his bedside wouldn't leave him alone.

"Why do you help these people from which you do not call home?" The Swallow suddenly asked.

Fredrick's heart paused in shock but he answered the Swallow back promptly with a smile.

"Why wouldn't I call this place home? Everyone has a home, whether it be big or small, whether it has the biggest population or just you. Do you not see the beauty in this small place I call home little swallow?"

"I do not." The Swallow replied truthfully with a flutter of his wings.

"Well once you do, that's when you'll understand why I help these people."

"Than I shall watch with great interest." The Swallow tweeted jovially.

'Why can a bird talk?' Auclair thought while tapping his foot.

Eventually the winter was ending and spring was starting when a flock of swallows suddenly arrived in the town. When they saw the Swallow that hung near Fredrick, they immediately fled.

"Why do your friends and family abandon you so?" Frederick asked with a solemn face.

"Because they are neither friends or family. They simply tormented me at every sort of opportunity and so I left. They called back to me apologizing with honeyed words, but I did not take heed their provocations any more."

The future king recounted the time before his arrival at the small town to the tiny bird. The bird wept at the sorrowful story but Frederick smiled.

"You cry, but ours stories are frightfully the same, no?"

Afterwards the future king and the speaking Swallow became close friends, inseparable by any measure.

Their bond lasted far longer than any birds life should have. Eventually the small town had prospered into a city. While a small castle was being built with walls surrounding it and the city, Frederick, now a wise king known to many, sought to speak with his companion.

He wished to question his bird friend about their long life to help the citizens of the original town.

Before he could ask the question weighing heavily upon his older mind, the Swallow spoke first.

"I saw a young man today, in an alleyway shivering from the cold. Around him huddled was his family. A young girl, a boy, and a wife."

"Nobody gave them shelter? Can you be my little messenger, Swallow? Can you implore them to come here?"

However the Swallow shook its tiny head, "Good friend, I asked and asked but the man shooed me away! He spoke of something called pride. That his family would come back from their fall."

And so King Frederick left the small cottage that he called home. It sat outside the castle that was being built, not for him, but for the original townsfolk, now old and feeble.

He swiftly walked along the streets guided by his companion to the cold alley in which the family froze. He begged and begged with all his might. The children and wife eventually got through the man's stubborn mind and they left for a warm building.

"It is a peculiar thing, that bird. I shan't ask why it can speak, but do know I am inquisitive by nature." The man who went by Herbert spoke softly.

The Swallow didn't answer the man but instead laid steadily on Frederick's shoulder.

More years passed swiftly by and eventually King Frederick and Herbert became great friends. But tragedy after tragedy struck.

First, Herbert's wife passed away silently in her sleep. It was so unexpected that not a thing could be done. They mourned and mourned and when their wounds finally were beginning to heal…

Herbert's eldest, a strong boy grew too prideful, much like his father, and swam too far out the sea. Herbert and his daughter stayed by the beach for weeks with tears always glistening their eyes.

The day Herbert left the beach with his daughter was the day he changed. He was no longer prideful, no longer greedy, instead he focused on life itself and those around him. He didn't care about restoring his families past glory.

There wasn't a passing moment he didn't cherish with those around him. Eventually his daughter grew up into a splendid young woman and was soon to be married to the love of her life.

That was when the inquisitive Herbert asked a question that Frederick had long forgotten.

"What makes gives you long life my friend?" He asked the Swallow with a warm smile.

The Swallow fluttered onto the man's head without much thought.

"Love."

"Love?" Herbert questioned. "Love does not give life to humans though little Swallow."

"Of course it does!" The bird chirped with jolly, "Do spiteful humans ever last long in the stories that you humans always sing from atop tables? No, it's those who are surrounded by love! I have all the love I could ask for in this village!"

Auclair stood frozen watching the memories in pain. He really didn't care for them at all but he couldn't do anything about it. He continued watching it and in summary:

Herbert's daughter fell ill and Herbert was swooned by an outer god to travel out into the world and find a cure. The 'cure' was the ring that Auclair was now wearing. When he returned he found his daughter on death's doorstep.

He pleaded and pleaded with the Swallow for the key to long live but Swallow just gave the same old answer. Eventually, Herbert killed the Swallow in rage which caused Frederick to mourn the death of his old friend. This left Frederick vulnerable and he was had previously written that Herbert would take over the throne in case of his unfortunate death.

Auclair could already see where it was going. He rolled his eyes in annoyance.

Frederick forgot about his will and eventually found himself coughing up blood one morning. The day after he had perished. Herbert usurped the throne and wore the ring, which was a relic called a Memory. It constantly played cherished memories, hence the name, back to the original user.

Those who pick up the ring after can see that user's memories. But it could also be reset for a new user.

Either way, the outer god showed Herbert his loving family day after day. Each passing day, he grew more paranoid and allowed the outer god to take root in his kingdom. It was around this point when Herbert had stumbled upon the truth of the Swallow.

The outer god had used the little Swallow to search for potential usurpers of power. Once they found them, they'd latch on and slowly manipulate things into their favor. But Herbert was too far gone to even care.

Before long, the god was creating giants and had completely corrupted Herbert's mind.

The kingdom quickly fell to ruin as he preferred to live in the past rather than fix the problems with the present. It was around that point when the ring stopped transmitting memories.

"Are we done?" Auclair mumble to nobody in particular.

[Yes Vostus, we are.]

Auclair's eyes instantly narrowed in distaste when the system appeared before him with new text.

"What do you want you insufferable prick? At least I was right, you did make this shitty system, didn't you?"

[Such language, ouch… I'm here for some mutual benefits.]

"Those being?"

[I've no doubt that you've found yourself by far weaker than you used to be correct?]

"Yeah, yeah, yeah."

[Well I have the key to get your strength back. In return…]

"Stop being dramatic and just get on with it." Auclair felt a migraine coming along.

[We're trapped. Except for some very few gods, we can't leave the Iron Tower. The ancients have made it our prison. Yohr recently escaped, and of course Past and Future can leave at anytime, but the majority of use are completely stuck.]

"Okay? Why would I care?" Auclair questioned with honesty. Besides Yohr and his brother, he didn't really care what happened to the rest of the gods.

[Because without my help, you will never get your full strength back.]

"…"

[I'm sure you are aware of the gap in your memory?]

"Yes Erus, I am. And if I find out you're behind it, I'm going to have some very choice words and actions the next time I see you. Like calling you some vehement language and making your skull concave."

[Lets not get ahead of ourselves here Vostus. I was just keeping them restricted as an incentive to help us. If you help us, I'll give them to you right away!]

"And… what exactly am I forgetting?"

[Some very precious memories.]

"Fine, I'll help you. I'll say this though, I am very happy that the ancients stabbed you in the back. Its very funny to me." Auclair said with a warm smile.

[God you're insufferable.]

"I already said the same to you. Glad we're in agreement, now hand the stupid contract over so I can read it."

[You were always a careful one.]

"And you were always a conniving little shit. Guess old habits die hard."

A long system message appeared detailing different parts of the contract and he was supposed to sign it at the bottom.

"What happened to the old magic?" Auclair suddenly asked.

[We all got together and remodeled it for the various races at the command of the ancients. It uses my system as the backbone now.]

"That's disgusting." Auclair muttered as he signed his name.

[Despite being the person in primary control of it, I'll have to agree. Either way Vostus, it was a pleasure doing business with you. Would you prefer your precious memories, or remember the key to your strength first?]

Two different menu buttons appeared for the two choices. Auclair quickly sent his finger to the [Key to Your Strength] but he hesitated.

He took his finger away and pressed [Precious Memories] first.